July 10, 2012 > MSJLL Major All-Stars capture first District 14 crown in 11 years

MSJLL Major All-Stars capture first District 14 crown in 11 years

Submitted By Ed Hugo

The Mission San Jose Little League (MSJLL) major all-stars swept through four straight games to capture the District 14 Major Division all-star tournament for the first time in 11 years. MSJLL faced Newark American (NALL) once again in the final game after they had defeated NALL in the semi-final game in a breathtaking 1-0 eight-inning contest.

Brett Hansen, Jake DeVera and Justin Lu combined on the hill for MSJLL and allowed only one earned run, scattered four hits and they struck out 13 NALL batters. Hansen started the game and pitched two innings giving up an unearned run as a result of MSJLL's only error of the game. DeVera followed Hansen and pitched bulk of the game allowing a single run with Lu coming on to record the final out.

MSJLL scored in each of the first four innings of the game building up an insurmountable 7-1 lead. Hansen's two-out single in the first inning ignited MSJLL's first rally as he came around to score on DeVera's clutch single to right field putting MSJLL ahead 1-0. The scoring continued in the second inning as Craig Prudente led off the inning with a single and scored when NALL committed a two-out error to increase MSJLL's lead to 2-0. NALL bounced back with a single run of their own in the second inning to cut MSJLL's lead to 2-1.

MSJLL then sent nine batters to the plate in the third inning to break the game open as they scored three more runs to build their lead to 5-1. MSJLL connected on only one hit in the inning (Hansen's lead-off single) and benefited from five walks as two of their runs came on bases loaded walks. MSJLL wrapped up their scoring with a two-run fourth inning with Derek Chan's double being the key blow of the inning.

With a 7-1 lead, NALL tried to stage rally in the fifth inning as DeVera's control faltered. He walked two batters and hit two batters but also struck out the side. After striking out the first two batters in the sixth inning, a tiring DeVera walked the next two prompting Coach Matt Hansen to bring in Lu who closed out the game by inducing the next batter to ground out to second baseman Sean Hamedaman.

A thrilled Coach Hansen commented after the game, "Our pitching and defense was phenomenal throughout the entire tournament. Our pitchers consistently delivered clutch pitches in tight situations. These kids earned it and I'm fortunate to be a part of it."

The MSJLL major all-stars now move on to the four-team Section 3 tournament which will begin on Saturday, July 14 in Hillsborough. A victory there would allow MSJLL to move onto the Division II tournament which will be held on their home field at Gomes School beginning on July 21.